Aqueous liquid composition

Abstract

An aqueous liquid composition, which may be used as a light duty hand dishwashing composition, comprising (i) at least one surfactant, (ii) at least one polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer which is present in an amount of at least 0.4 weight % based on the weight of the composition, (iii) ethanol which is present in an amount of from 0.5 to 5 weight % based on the weight of the composition, and (iv) water. The mixture of in the polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer and ethanol can inhibit or prevent gelling of the composition at a temperature below 0 C.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An aqueous liquid composition comprising:
 (i) at least one surfactant, 
 (ii) from about 1 to about 2 weight % of a polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer, based on the weight of the composition, 
 (iii) from about 1 to about 2 weight % of ethanol based on the weight of the composition, and 
 (iv) water. 
 
     
     
       2. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer and the ethanol are present in a weight ratio of about 1:1. 
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 2  wherein the polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer is present in an amount of from about 1.3 to about 1.7 weight % based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 3  wherein the at least one polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer is present in an amount of about 1.5 weight % based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
       5. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer has the formula (EO) x (PO) y (EO) z  where EO is ethylene oxide, PO is propylene oxide, x=11+/−3, y=21+/−5 and z=11+/−3. 
     
     
       6. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the ethanol is present in an amount of from 1.25 to 1.75 weight % based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
       7. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the at least one surfactant is present in an amount of from 15 to 30 weight % based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
       8. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the at least one surfactant comprises a mixture of (a) at least one anionic surfactant and (b) at least one amine oxide surfactant. 
     
     
       9. The composition of  claim 8  wherein the at least one anionic surfactant comprises at least one C 8-18  alkyl ether sulfate surfactant having an ethoxylation (EO) of from 0.5 to 10. 
     
     
       10. The composition of  claim 9  wherein the at least one C 8-18  alkyl ether sulfate surfactant has an ethoxylation (EO) of from 0.5 to 2. 
     
     
       11. The composition of  claim 10  wherein the at least one C 8-18  alkyl ether sulfate surfactant has an ethoxylation (EO) of about 0.6. 
     
     
       12. The composition of  claim 9  wherein the at least one C 8-18  alkyl ether sulfate surfactant is selected from at least one of ammonium lauryl ether sulfate and an alkali metal lauryl ether sulfate. 
     
     
       13. The composition of  claim 9  wherein the at least one C 8-18  alkyl ether sulfate surfactant is present in an amount of from 10 to 25 weight % based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
       14. The composition of  claim 8  wherein the at least one amine oxide surfactant comprises at least one C 8-18  alkyl amidoalkyl-substituted amine oxide. 
     
     
       15. The composition of  claim 14  wherein the at least one C 8-18  alkyl amidoalkyl-substituted amine oxide surfactant is selected from at least one of lauryl amidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide and myristyl amidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       16. The composition of  claim 15  wherein the at least one C 8-18  alkyl amidoalkyl-substituted amine oxide surfactant is a mixture of lauryl amidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide and myristyl amidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide. 
     
     
       17. The composition of  claim 14  wherein the at least one C 8-18  alkyl amidoalkyl-substituted amine oxide surfactant is present in an amount of from 1 to 10 weight % based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
       18. The composition of  claim 17  wherein the at least one C 8-18  alkyl amidoalkyl-substituted amine oxide surfactant is present in an amount of from 3 to 8 weight % based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
       19. The composition of  claim 8  wherein the weight ratio of the at least one anionic surfactant and the at least one amine oxide surfactant is from 3:1 to 5:1. 
     
     
       20. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition has a viscosity of from 800 to 1500 Centipoise as measured on a Brookfield RVT Viscometer using spindle 21 at 20 RPM at 25° C. 
     
     
       21. The composition of  claim 1  which is a light duty hand dishwashing composition. 
     
     
       22. A light duty hand dishwashing aqueous liquid composition comprising (i) at least one anionic alkyl ether sulfate surfactant selected from ammonium lauryl ether sulfate and an alkali metal lauryl ether sulfate or a mixture thereof, the at least one alkyl ether sulfate having an ethoxylation (EO) of from 0.5 to 2, wherein the at least one anionic alkyl ether sulfate surfactant is present in an amount of from 10 to 25 weight % based on the weight of the composition, (ii) at least one amine oxide surfactant selected from lauryl amidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide and myristyl amidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide or a mixture thereof, wherein the at least one amine oxide surfactant is present in an amount of from 3 to 8 weight % based on the weight of the composition, (iii) at least one polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer which is present in an amount of from 1 to 2 weight % based on the weight of the composition, wherein the polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide block copolymer has the formula (EO) x (PO) y (EO) z  where EO is ethylene oxide, PO is propylene oxide, x=11+/−3, y=21+/−5 and z=11+/−3, (iv) ethanol which is present in an amount of from 1 to 2 weight % based on the weight of the composition, and (v) water.